NCTOTA held its fall chapter meeting on Saturday, November 9 in Hayesville. Members met with Preservation Officer Dr. Brett Riggs and his class from WCU at Spikebuck Mound at the Clay County Recreation Park at 10am. The field trip tour continued to the Clay County Historical and Arts Museum’s recreated Cherokee Homestead, 21 Davis Loop, and ended at the Fort Hembree signs, 295 Fort Hembree Rd. at 11:30am. President Sue Abram called the meeting to order. She opened with announcements:
1) Reminder that NCTOTA Fundraising Booklets are still for sale for $10 (they will not be mailed)
a. Bearmeat’s Indian Den, Soco Rd, Cherokee, NC
b. Snowbird Library, Robbinsville, NC
c. Cowee Heritage and Cultural Arts School, Franklin, NC
d. Tiger’s Emporium, Hayesville, NC
e. All NCTOTA meetings and events
2) Reminder that National TOTA membership renewals are due January 1, 2025, for the coming year.
3) NCTOTA will have a table at the upcoming Junaluska Memorial Wreath-Laying Ceremony in Robbinsville on Wednesday, November 13, at 11am.
Minutes of the last meeting in July at the Murphy sign dedication were approved, having been sent earlier to the general membership. Anita Finger Smith gave a Treasurer’s report to the group and a sign update. She reported that all eighteen of the original signs are placed now except for the one at Hanging Dog. That is awaiting approval by the tribal governments/groups involved with the Unicoi Turnpike corridor in the Nantahala National Forest. As one of NCTOTA’s National Directors, she also presented a report on the recent National Board of the TOTA meeting in Chattanooga. Anita informed the group about the replacement of retiring Melissa Twarowski by Dr. Danielle Shelton as the NFS’s Trail of Tears liaison. Anita announced that the next annual conference will take place in Springfield, MO with the one following that to be hosted by the GATOTA.
Secretary Robin Swayney announced the election results for 4 officers, one national director, and four chapter board positions. (Bob Timlin and Lamar Marshall chose not to run). Newly elected position begin in January 2025. A complete list with all officers/directors will be distributed with contact info then.
President: Sue Abram
Vice President: Carmaleta Monteith
Secretary: Robin Swayney
Treasurer: Anita Finger Smith
National Director: Ben Laseter
Chapter Board Directors: Tom Hatley, Angelina Jumper, Rob Tiger, and Paige Yelen
Congrats to all and a big welcome to new board members, Rob Tiger and Angelina Jumper!